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The effect of grazing on bumblebees in the high rangelands of the eastern Tibetan Plateau of Sichuan

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Abstract

Many Tibetans who were formerly nomadic yak herders are settling near towns. However, yak remain a traditional symbol of wealth, which can lead to increased local stocking densities and severe over-grazing. We used belt-transect counts to study the area around Hongyuan in Sichuan. We find that intensive summer grazing significantly reduces the vegetation height and is associated with significant reductions in bumblebee-food-plant abundance and bumblebee diversity. For the significantly reduced bumblebee species, we identify the most frequently used and preferred bumblebee-food plants. For the food plants, we identify changes in absolute flower availability and changes in bumblebee visits. In particular, reductions in the bumblebees Bombus supremus, B. filchnerae, B. humilis and B. impetuosus are associated with reductions in flowers of the food plants Hedysarum and Saussurea.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Juliet Osborne for discussion and two referees for helpful comments. This study was funded jointly by the 111 Project (No. B08037), a grant of National Science Foundation of China to Ya Tang (Grant number 40171038), and by the Chinese Scholarship Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Biodiversity and Environmental Studies, Department of Environment, Sichuan University, Moziqiao, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, China

    Zhenghua Xie & Ya Tang

  2. Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    Paul H. Williams

Authors
  1. Zhenghua Xie
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  2. Paul H. Williams
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  3. Ya Tang
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Correspondence to Paul H. Williams.

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Xie, Z., Williams, P.H. & Tang, Y. The effect of grazing on bumblebees in the high rangelands of the eastern Tibetan Plateau of Sichuan. J Insect Conserv 12, 695–703 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-008-9180-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-008-9180-3

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